Automatic cash-carrier



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1;

J. W. FLA-GG.

I AUTOMATIC CASH CARRIER. No. 348,957. Patented Sept. 14, 1886,.

n PETERS. PWoUlhogl-Ipbcr. Wahmglun. no.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J.'W. PLAGG.

AUTOMATIG CASH CARRIER.

No. 348 957. Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

IET-

OIIHIIIIII ml tm W W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. V ALTER FLAGG, OF VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC CASH-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,957, datedSeptember 14, 1886.

Serial No. 187,578. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LJosnrrr WALTER FLAGG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vorcester, in the county of \Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Cash-(larriers, of which the following isa specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, representing suchportions of the cash carrying system as embody my improvements.

My invention relates to that class of cashcarrying systems in whichinclined tracks and rolling carriers are used, and particularly to thatportion concerned in the delivery of the carriers from the outward ordistributing track to the salesmen at their respective counters; and myinvention consistsin hinging a section of the outward track so as toform a continuous way to the intermediate chamber or track forsuccessive carriers; in devices for latching said hinged sect-ion inalignment with the outward track; in a horizontal bar vertically adjustable and extending over the track in position to receive the impactof certain of the rolling carriers, said bar being connected with andactuating said latching devices; in stops to receive the free ends ofthe hinged rails and hold them in proper position to deliver thecarriers to the intermediate track; in devices for raising andsustaining the delivery baskets, and in the details of construction, ashereinafter described, and specificall y set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of thatportion of the outward track containing the devices for the delivery ofthe carriers. Fig. 2 is a top "iew of same. Fig. 3 is a top view of aportion of the outward track, showing one of the carriers in contactwith the horizontal arm and actuating the latching devices. Fig. 4 is anend view of the same. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of theoutward track, showing the several devices employed in the delivery ofthe carriers in different positions from Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectionalview of thelatching mechanism. Fig. 7 is a top view of the intermediatetrack, and Fi 8 is an elevation of the outward track with the railnearest the heholder removed.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

A denotes an outward-inclined track, upon which the rolling cashcarriersB are distributed to the salesmen, a section, 0 (J, of its rails beinghinged at a, so their free ends may be carried down by the weight of thecarrier, forming an opening in the track. Springs D, acting against theunder side of the hinged rails O C, return them in alignment with thetrack A, where they are held by a bolt, I), sliding in one of the outerrails, E, and entering a hole, I), in one of the rails G. The end ofbolt and a portion of the rail engaged by the bolt are slightlychamfered, so the upward movement of the rail will forcethe bolt back,the spiral spring I) carrying the boltb forward into the hole I).

I attach a frame, F, to one of the outer rails, E, carrying the screws 00, upon the points of which the vertical post G turns. A horizontal arm,H, vertically adjustable on the post G, extends across the track A atsuch a height that it will receive the impact of all rolling carriersintended to be delivered at this sta tion, permitting those smaller topass beneath it. From the post G an arm, I, extends past a pin, 1), inthe bolt 7). Upon the passage of a carrier on the track large enough tomove the post G by means of the horizontal arm H, the bolt b will bewithdrawn, allowing the hinged section '0 of the track A to fall beneaththe weightof the passing carrier. The outer rails, E E, are attached ateach end to the rails of the track A, and form a frame, which preservesthe alignment of the track A. From the outer rails, E E, posts J Jextend downward, sustaining the intermediate track, J

I place a rod, cl, between the posts J, slightly below the intermediatetrack, J to receive the free ends of the hinged rails O G and sus tainthem in position to allow the carrier B to pass without jar onto thetrack J. The upper surface of the track J 2 is inclined, so the carrierswill roll across to the lower and 0p posite end, in which is pivoted acircular gate, K, with its opening slightly largerthau the carriers tobe delivered at this station, having a weight, K, and an arm, K

A delivery-basket, L, is attached by cords to the scored pulleys e e,turning upon studs attached to the outer side of the rails E. To thesides of the pulleys e e are attached the smaller scored pulleys, f f,to which I fasten the cords f f, with their opposite ends at- 5 tachedto the spiral springs f f, fastened to the studs f f in the rails E E.The basket L, when held against the under side of theintermediate track,will raise the arm K and maintain the gate K in a horizontal position,to allowing the carriers entering upon the intermediate track to passthrough the gate K and enter the delivery-basket L. IVhen the basket Lis drawn down for the removal of the carrier, the weight K will bringthe gate K in the position shown in Fig. 5, its upturned edge checkingthe passage of any carrier that may enter the intermediate track whilethe basket is withdrawn, the difference in the diameters of the attachedpulleys e andf allow- 23 ing the basket L to be lowered a considerabledistance with but a slight movement of the cord f and expansion of thespiral springsf The construction and operation of the tilt ing gate Kand delivery-basket L is similar to that shown and described in myLetters Patent Nos. 316,531 and 308,032; but in my present invention,instead of a winding-drum having inclosed springs, I employ thedifferential pulleys e and fand springsf I am aware that a difl'erentialwindingmeclr anism has been employed attached to and can ried by thedelivery-tray of a cash-carrying system, with cords or flexibleconnections attached toa carriage or car on the track,which were woundand unwound as the delivery- 7 tray was moved up or down Such I do notclaim.

I am aware that an intermediate track has been used with the outwardtrack of a cash- 0 carrying system such as was shown in my LettersPatent No. 319,692. I am also aware that a section of the outward trackhas been 'pivoted so its free ends may fall and convey the carriers fromthe main track to the intermediate track. I claim none of thesefeatures,

broadly.

, In my present invention I hinge the rails O C at the point a, forminga continuous track, so that whenever a carrier has operated the latchingmechanism and depressed the free ends of the rails O C the opposite endswill not be raised above the track A so as to check a following carrier.I also carry the free ends of the rails O 0 below the intermediate trackto 5 the stop-rod (1, thereby preventing any jar as the carrier leavesthe hinged section 0 C. When a carrier has withdrawn the latchingbolt 1)and passed beneath the horizontal arm H, the spiral spring I)" incarrying the bolt forward will also return the horizontal arm H to itsposition at right angles with the track A, and after the passage of thecarrier to the in termediate track, J the springs D will return thehinged rails O G in alignment with the 6 5 main track A, the rail 0becoming automatically latched as the chamfered section of the rail 0passes the bolt 1).

Between the beveled ends 9 of the hinged rail and thecorrespondiugly-beveled end 9 of the main rails, Fig. 8, I place acushion, h, of rubber or some elastic material, to receive the force ofthe ascending rails when carried up by the springs D.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. The combination, with the main outward track of a cash-carryingsystem, of a hinged section upon which the rolling carriers areconducted from the main track, the rails of said section being hinged attheir ends to the rails of the main track, so as to form a continuoustrack, and said section having connected means for returning it inalignment with the main track after the passage of a carrier, asdescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the main outward way of a cash-carrying system,of a hinged section of the main track, upon which the rolling carriersare conducted from the main track, the rails of said section beinghinged at their ends to the rails of the main track, so as to form acontinuous way, and springs applied to the hinged section so as to raiseitin alignment with the main track, as described, and for the purposeset forth.

3. The combination, with the main outward track of a cash-carryingsystem having a section of its rails hinged at one end, so their freeends may fall down and allow the carriers to pass from the main track,and latching mechanism by which said hinged section is held in'alignmentwith the main track, ofa vertical rotating post and a horizontal armextending from said post over the track, so as to be moved by thepassing carriers, and connected mechanism for securing the simultaneousaction of the rotating post and that of the latching mechanism inreleasing the hinged section of rails, as described, and for the punpose set forth.

4,. The combination, with the way of a cashcarrying system adapted toconduct rolling cash-carriers from the cashiers desk to the severalsalesmen in a store, of a section of the rails hinged at one end so thefree ends ofsaid hinged rails may be borne downward by the weight of thecarriers, springs applied to said hinged rails to return them inalignment with the main track, a latching device for holding said hingedrails in alignment with the main track, and mechanism adapted to beactuated by the carrier by which it is unlatched, as described, and forthe purpose set forth.

5. The combinatiomwith the main way of a cash-carrying system, having ahinged sec tion by which the carriers are allowed to pass from thetrack, of an inclosing-frame, E E, at tached to the main track andinclosing said hinged section ,a supporting-frame attached to saidinclosing-frame EE, and carrying a vertical rotating post, a horizontalarm attached to said post and extending over the track, so as to bemoved by certain of the passing car riers, an arm attached to saidrotating post, actuating the latching mcchanisn1,and alatching mechanismconsisting of a bolt sliding in the inclosingframe E E, and a springapplied to said bolt to carry it forward to engage the hinged section ofthe track, as described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination,with the hinged section of the main track, asdescribed, of a sliding bolt, 1), engaging one of the rails of thehingedsection, a spring, I), and connected operating mechanism adapted to bemoved by the passing carriers,snbstantiall y as described,and for thepurpose set forth.

7. The combination,with the main track of a cash-carrying system and anintermediate track placed below said main track, and a hinged section ofsaid main track opening downward,upon which carriers are conducted tosaid intermediate track, of a stop placed below the intermediate trackto receive and sustain the free ends of the hinged rails as the carrierspass to the intermediate track, as described, and for the purpose setforth.

8. The combination, with the main track of a cash-carrying system,having a hinged section whose rails open downward to allow the carriersto pass from the main track,and having connected means for returningsaid track in alignment with the main track, of elastic cushions appliedbetween the free ends of said hinged rails and the main track, asdescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

9. The coinbination,\vitl1 the main outward track of a cash-carryingsystem and a moveable deliyery-basket below said track, to receive thecarriers therefrom, of a differential winding-pulley with a fixedbearing on or above said track, cords attached to said basket andwinding upon the larger step of said pulley, and a spring whose tensionis applied to the smaller step of said pulley, by which thedelivery-basket is drawn up, substantially as described, and for thepurpose set forth.

10. The combination, with a movable (1elivery-basket arranged below themain track of a cash-carrying system, and adapted to receive carrierstherefrom,of a differential winding-pulley with a fixed bearing on orabove said track, a cord attached to the deliverybasket and winding onthe larger step of said pulley, and a cord winding on the smaller stepof said pulley, with a spiral spring attached thereto,whose tensionresists the downward motion of the delivery-basket.

11. The combination, with a movable delivery-basket below the main trackof a cashcarrying system, and adapted to receive carriers therefrom, ofa pulley with fixed bearings on or above said track,a cord attached tothe delivery-basket and wound upon said pulley, and a spiral spring witha cord attached thereto and wound upon said pulley, said cords beingwound upon said pulleys in opposite directionsso the tension of thespiral spring shall resist the downward motion of the delivery-basket.

J. \VALTER FLAGG.

Witnesses:

N. O. STEERE, RUFUs B. FOWLER.

